Jacinda Ardern releases second book about working motherhood, Mum's Busy Work

Jacinda Ardern has published her second book, Mum's Busy Work, a 32-page children's title that explores the emotions and realities of balancing parenthood with a high-demand career. The work is told from the perspective of Ardern's daughter, Neve, and centers on what the former New Zealand prime minister has called working mum guilt as she reflects on life during her time in office. Published by Penguin Random House, the book expands on themes she has long explored in public life, offering a child-friendly view of what it means to juggle responsibilities at home and in public.

Illustrated by Ruby Jones, a Wellington-based artist renowned for her TIME magazine cover work after the Christchurch terror attack in 2019, Mum's Busy Work presents Neve guiding a weeklong look at her mother's week. Jones has described a desire to illuminate everyday moments and the connection between people, families, and the wider world. Ardern, who has lived in Boston since late 2023 after stepping down from the New Zealand premiership, said the project aims to help mothers and children understand the emotional currents that accompany working parents. A note from Ardern at the end of the book emphasizes the lessons she learned from her daughter while she held public office and offers a simple message: every child is a family’s greatest work.

The book is published as Ardern continues a life abroad from the public stage she once dominated. After resigning as prime minister, she has maintained a high-profile role in academia and public discourse, including a connection to Harvard University. This week she traveled to New York to participate in a reading and launch event for the book, signaling her commitment to using storytelling as a way to discuss parenting, public service, and the pressures of balancing both. The launch activity in New York follows her long-standing engagement with audiences around the world, highlighting how a former prime minister remains a globally watched figure even as she pursues quieter, but equally influential, work.

The narrative in Mum's Busy Work moves beyond a focus on the daily grind of office life. It follows Neve as she observes her mother’s emotions across a typical week. Monday opens with Ardern acknowledging to Neve that she does not always enjoy every moment of her job, a line that prompts Neve to reflect on the moments when a parent seems tired after long days. On Tuesday, the book notes, Clarke Gayford, Ardern's partner, is present to support Neve as Ardern heads out to work. By Friday, Ardern returns home early enough to play hide-and-seek, and the family makes time for a picnic on Saturday. Sunday finds Ardern working from home, while Neve asks what her mother’s job entails; her response is a simple, guiding message about looking after everyone, like Neve herself.

The week culminates on Monday with Neve’s daycare anxiety giving way to dancing in Ardern’s clippy-cloppy work shoes, illustrating a gentle, child-centered arc that portrays both the sacrifices and the affection that come with being a working parent. The book ends with a reiteration that the work of raising and caring for children is a lifelong partnership between parent and child, a sentiment Ardern has long expressed in public life as well as in private moments.

Mum's Busy Work is available from 24.99 Australian dollars and is published by Penguin Random House. It follows Ardern's earlier memoir, a Different Kind of Power, which she wrote to reflect on leadership, motherhood, and the choices that shaped her career. While the memoir offered an adult-facing portrait of her experiences in politics, the new children's book seeks to translate similar themes for young readers, presenting empathy and resilience as shared family values rather than policies alone. Ardern has described motherhood as a calling that has shaped her sense of purpose, and this latest work appears intended to help both children and parents navigate the complex emotions that can accompany public service and daily life.

Ardern’s transition from prime minister to a global figure who continues to influence conversations about leadership and motherhood reflects a broader trend of political figures leveraging literary projects to broaden their public appeal and impact. The collaboration with Ruby Jones adds a visual dimension that complements the text, inviting children to engage with the story through illustration as well as narrative. Jones’s background in art that captures intimate, human moments aligns with the book’s aim of turning a private struggle into a shared experience that families can talk about together.

In discussing her new work, Ardern has emphasized that the book’s core message is about recognizing and validating the feelings that come with having a working parent. The closing note of the book—emphasizing that a child’s well-being and learning are the true measures of a family’s greatness—reiterates a theme that has underpinned Ardern’s public persona for years: leadership is inseparable from care, and care begins at home. The project underscores a growing expectation that figures who have held the highest offices are also interested in shaping cultural conversations about parenting, gender roles, and the everyday realities of balancing work and family life on a global stage.

Ardern’s ongoing presence in international media and academia suggests that the launch of Mum's Busy Work will be followed by additional appearances and readings. While her move to the United States has drawn attention to her post-political career, the book’s reception will likely be shaped by how effectively it translates complex emotions into a relatable story for children and families navigating similar experiences around the world. As with her memoir, Mum's Busy Work may serve as a touchstone for discussions about work-life balance, the pressures of public service, and the enduring bond between parent and child that shapes future leaders.